CHAPTER V. 



THE OLD ENGLISH " BOB-TAILED " SHEEP DOG His 

 ORIGIN REINAGLE'S ILLUSTRATION IN THE " SPORTS- 

 MAN'S CABINET" RICHARDSON'S DESCRIPTION 

 " IDSTONE " EARLY CLASSES DR. EDWARDES-KER'S 

 OPINION DESCRIPTION AND STANDARD OF POINTS. 



HERE appears to be considerable difference of 

 opinion as to the reputation the old-fashioned, 

 bob-tailed, rough-coated English sheep or drover's 

 dog ought to bear. His admirers praise his docility and 

 intelligence, and rave about the beauty of " his bright blue 

 eyes," and the rugged luxury of his hairy jacket. His 

 detractors say he is a fraud and a deception, ugly to the 

 mind educated to beauty, and by no means either so docile 

 and intelligent as a guardian of the flocks and herds should 

 be. As a fact, the Collie Club refuses altogether to acknow- 

 ledge him, so he is left to the tender mercies of a few 

 enthusiastic admirers who formed a special club of their 

 own to promote and foster their fancy, and it will be the 

 fault of the public rather than of themselves if the bob- 

 tailed sheep dog does not blossom into a fashionable beauty. 

 He is certainly a handsomer animal than the British bull- 

 dog, but for elegance of shape and adaptability as a 



